Balrownie Wood

The walk through Balrownie Wood comes as a proper surprise if you're staying around Banchory. It's a straightforward forest ramble through Aberdeenshire pinewoods - the sort of place where you genuinely feel you've stepped away from things, even though the nearest town is barely twenty minutes down the road.

What you get is a decent woodland trail with decent trees and plenty of space to breathe. The paths wind through mature Scots pine, which means the ground is soft underfoot and the light filters through in that golden way that makes you forget about phone signal. It's not dramatic scenery - no crashing waterfalls or ridgeline views - but that's rather the point. Families with younger kids will find it manageable, and walkers after something low-key between longer adventures will appreciate the straightforward access.

Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushing. The paths are generally well-maintained, though it's Scottish Highlands so mud happens. Best visited in autumn when the colours shift or winter when you've got a clearer view through the branches.

If you're based at Silverbank or Banchory Lodge - both excellent caravan parks just up from town - this sits nicely as a morning sortie before you tackle bigger walks. It's the sort of woodland that doesn't try to be something it isn't, which is exactly why it works. Free access and no faffing about with opening hours either.